What happened?
A lone worker was seriously injured while working a steer. The situation could have been much worse because they had left their cell phone and PLB in their Hilux. Only by crawling back to the truck were they able to call for help. This Safety Alert seeks to raise awareness of Working Alone procedures and remind all lone workers to always keep their communications devices on them.
How should we respond?
- Lone workers are at a greater risk than normal employees because they do not have others to support them in their tasks or assist them if they are involved in an accident.
- Always have back-up communications plans. Cell phones cannot be the primary means of effective communications.
- Prepare for lone work by understanding the hazards in the area you're working in, current weather conditions and weather forecast.
- Have the right equipment for the task and conditions, including appropriate communications, clothing, Personal Protective Equipment and Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
- Know what to do in an emergency or when things change.
- Create and follow check-in/check out procedures.
- Sole-charge workers should keep partners, family and managers aware of their schedule and locations.
Key lessons
- It's better to over-communicate than under-communicate.
- Always carry your radio, cell-phone or Personal Location Beacon on you at all times – not on the dashboard or in the glovebox.
- Managers should purchase appropriate harnesses and/or pouches for workers to carry their comms equipment.
- All workers, contractors and visitors need to know where the dead zones are for comms on farm, and check-in/check-out procedures should be used for workers going into or through these zones.
- Workers, contractors and visitors need to keep managers or co-workers informed if things change during the day. For example, if workers swap tasks or if the risk increases, tell someone.
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